Summer workamper jobs for RVers are in full swing right now. At about this point in time the seasonal workamper job force around the U.S. is either committed to sticking around for the duration or turning the key and leaving. Oftentimes jobs don’t work out as we hoped and while there’s no disgrace in leaving ahead of time (just don’t burn bridges), there are things we can do before accepting a workamper arrangement to avoid the extra stress of unexpectedly resigning and moving our home to other pastures.
Get to Know the Workamper Employer
How do you know if workamping is right for you? When you talk to an employer about a potential job, always ask a ton of questions about your specific role in the organization. Whether you’re working four hours a week or forty, those hours can be miserable unless you are well prepared for the work that’s expected of you.
Keep in mind that really small businesses, especially family-owned ones, rarely have job descriptions. These mom and pop businesses usually don’t commit to written descriptions because they need flexible workampers who can wear many hats. If you always worked for large organizations with well-defined roles, you’ll probably be happiest at larger entities, such as state and national parks or even doing seasonal factory work for Amazon.
To help you get started assessing potential workamping jobs, ask the employer:
What are the job duties?
What kind of pay and other perks do you offer?
How much training will I receive?
Will I have a direct supervisor?
What kind of seasonal commitment are you expecting?
When will my days off happen? Can my husband/partner and I have the same days off?
For some employers, an interview format like this is an unusual occurrence. I’ll never forget the time when my husband and I had a phone interview with a potential employer, an old cowboy whose family business had been around for over 100 years. We grilled him up and down, sideways and back, but he gave extremely vague answers to our questions. He didn’t even know what I would be doing, he just wanted Jim because he was physical labor and as for me he simply said “We’ll find something for your wife to do!” The old cowboy wasn’t being evasive; it was just that his business always ran things on the fly and everyone wore many hats. Jim and I were a little leery about that but since we like a good challenge, we accepted the job and we’ve been going back every summer for the last seven years!
Before leaping into a workamping job, always do your best to carefully review what you do know about the job, your potential employer and colleagues. Before committing, look inward and ask yourself:
How much do I like the company, the location and my potential teammates?
Am I comfortable with the job duties? Can I physically perform them?
Is there anything about this job that I might not like?
Workamping jobs are a great way to save money and often earn some while you’re on the road as a full-time RVer. When selected with care, your workamping job can be an unforgettable adventure that provides hours of tales you can spin around the campfire with friends. To learn more about workamping visit the Workampers Facebook group and go to Workamper News.
Rene Agredano and her husband, Jim Nelson, became full-time RVers in 2007 and have been touring the country ever since. In her blog, Rene chronicles the ins and outs of the full-timing life and brings readers along to meet the fascinating people and amazing places they visit on the road. Her road trip adventures are chronicled in her blog at LiveWorkDream.com.
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